Unforeseen 9/?

Summary: Set after the episode 'Double Date.' Pacey wakes up the day after the carnival to a new reality no one saw coming.

Disclaimer: I only own the plot, so far.

Rating: R

A/N: Season one if I remember right is there freshman year

-break-

One month later.

Pacey groaned staring at the stack of work he was still behind since entering the hospital.

"Don't worry we'll work through them." Joey reassured him, stepping into the room and sitting on the bed next to him.

Rubbing tiredly at his eyes Pacey sighed leaning against the hospital bed. "By the time I finish this it'll be the start of Junior year."

"Pacey." Joey growled throwing her arm around his shoulder, ignoring the pounding in her chest. "They know your sick and have given you more than enough time to do it."

Closing his eyes Pacey yawned leaning deeper into her arms. "And what if I can't." He opened one eye to look at her. "Chemo hits me hard with the nausea and exhaustion and I have that twice a week. I'm lucky if I have two or three days to work and tired…"

"Pace." Joey hissed pulling his face toward hers, his eyes popping open to meet hers. "I am going to work my hardest to get you through nine grade…and chemo too." The words slipped out in near whisper, blue eyes getting lost on brown. Their heart beats echoed in their ears as the gravitational pull between them tightened, their faces inches apart.

"Hey loser." Gretchen announced, effectively tearing the pair apart, Joey nearly twisting her ankle jumping out of the bed.

"Hey Gretch." Pacey stuttered, his eyes turning to his sister, his heart still pounding wildly in his chest. That was the closest he and Joey had been since the night of the carnival and his exhausted brain wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Hey Gretchen, your back." Joey chuckled nervously, her fingers working shakily in her lap.

"I am." Gretchen stated, her eyes quirking between them, their behavior surprisingly suspicious. "What? I can't come check to see how my little brother is doing?"

"Of course." Pacey stumbled as Joey suddenly stood, offering them both a smile.

"I'll let you two catch up. I'll come back later."

She was out the door before either Witter could respond, Gretchen shook her head walking up next to the chair Joey abandoned. "What was that I walked in on?"

"Nothing." When she gave him her 'I don't believe you' look, he sighed. "The night before I was admitted to the hospital I went to the carnival with Joey. I talked with Dawson…about kissing Joey…when I took her home, I did."

"Then?" Gretchen pondered watching her brother closely.

Shaking his head Pacey huffed rubbing his hand across his face. "She pushed me back…in shock I think…but it was stupid anyway, I know she has a thing for Dawson."

"What I walked in on didn't look like she was crushing on Dawson."

Sighing, Pacey lay back on his bed, annoyed at where this conversation was going. "Gretch, what would she want with me? I'm an inept high school freshman that will fail out of school or die from cancer."

"Don't say that." The elder Witter barked, her eyes venomous. "You will not die from this, and I know school is hard right now, but I have faith you will graduate."

Looking at the only one of his sisters that seemed to care in the eye, he nodded, though somewhat reluctantly. "Ok."

Gretchen smiled, sitting down next to her brother on the bed. "Alright loser, now tell me what else is going on with you."

His baby-faced smile warmed her heart as he relayed things that had gone on around him the last few weeks. Once exhaustion won out and he fell asleep, Gretchen left her baby brother.

Joey came back some time after, a plastic container in hand. She smiled finding him slumbering, a light snore on his lips. Setting the container on the table next to the bed she sat in her chair pulling her still incomplete work in her lap. She was only a few minutes in when she heard Pacey mumble.

"What is that smell?"

Chuckling Joey put her stuff down and picked up the container and the fork she brought with it. Sitting on the bed she handed him the container, watching as he examined it.

Lifting the lid carefully Pacey's eyes widened, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "Spaghetti and meatballs?"

Blushing Joey bit her lip, stuttering. "I went by the Icehouse…Bodie was making it as special and…"

"This is my favorite meal." Pacey chortled, staring at the still flush brunette.

"Is it?" Joey asked shrugging nonchalantly, her eyes turning toward his. "Good to know."

Pacey's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met once more, her quirked smile giving him hope that maybe he might hold a place in her heart. "Thanks."

Grinning Joey sat back in her chair, her warm eyes staring back at him. "You're welcome."

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